Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will lock horns with Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 42 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Thursday, April 24. RCB currently hold the third position on the IPL 2025 points table with five victories and three defeats from eight games. They come into this clash high on confidence following a clinical seven-wicket triumph over Punjab Kings in Mullanpur.
Despite their overall solid form, RCB, captained by Rajat Patidar, are still chasing their first home win this season and will aim to break that jinx in front of their home crowd.
Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, are enduring a tough season, with just two wins in eight outings, placing them eighth in the standings. With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, the team faces a must-win situation. Regular captain Sanju Samson remains sidelined due to injury, leaving Riyan Parag to shoulder the leadership responsibilities.
In their previous fixture, RR suffered a narrow two-run defeat against Lucknow Super Giants at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. They’ll be desperate to get back to winning ways and keep their playoff dreams alive.
Traditionally known for high-scoring thrillers, the Chinnaswamy pitch has shown a slightly different character in IPL 2025. The average first-innings total here has hovered around 170-180 in three of the four matches hosted so far this season. The fourth match was shortened to 14 overs per side due to rain.
Batters have found it increasingly challenging to clear the boundary ropes as the innings progresses. Spinners and medium pacers have been more effective during the middle overs, with batters relying heavily on strike rotation. Dew has played a crucial role in the second innings, often favouring teams chasing targets.
Total IPL Matches: 10
Wins Batting First: 4
Wins Batting Second: 6
Average 1st Innings Score: 181/7
Lowest Total Defended: 181
Highest Successful Chase: 186
200+ Totals: 3 times in 10 matches
Average Sixes per Match: 20
Pace Bowlers:
Overs Bowled: 66%
Wickets Taken: 86
Average: 26.9
Economy: 9.5
Strike Rate: 17.1
Spinners:
Overs Bowled: 34%
Wickets Taken: 29
Average: 39.0
Economy: 9.0
Strike Rate: 26.0
These stats indicate that pacers have had more success at the venue, but the high economy rates also suggest that it's still a challenging pitch for bowlers.
The last match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium saw RCB lose to Punjab Kings by five wickets. The game was rain-affected and reduced to 14 overs per side. Despite the shortened format, the match highlighted the difficulty batters face in the latter part of the innings, even in traditionally high-scoring venues like Chinnaswamy.
With dew likely to make batting easier in the second innings, the toss could play a pivotal role in deciding the winner. The team winning the toss is expected to opt for bowling first. Both RCB and RR will be under pressure—RCB to secure their first home win and RR to stay in the playoff race.
Fans can look forward to a tightly contested battle with key performances from top-order batters and impact players in the middle overs likely to swing the match either way.